PiBoIdMo Day 18: Aaron Reynolds Gets Creepy

Today I get to interview one of my favorite picture book peeps—Aaron Reynolds. His latest book, CREEPY CARROTS, is a NY Times Bestseller with the phenomenal Peter Brown.

PiBoIdMo is all about ideas. CREEPY CARROTS features a rabbit who’s paranoid that carrots are after him. How did that idea seed get planted?

I remembered as a kid how much I like to be scared. I loved scary TV shows and books. Don’t get me wrong…not REAL scared, not NIGHTMARE scared, but a little scared. I remembered watching shows like The Twilight Zone and how much fun it was to creep yourself out just a little. So I began thinking about ideas that were a little bit scary but mostly silly and an idea sprang to mind about a rabbit who loves carrots…until the carrots start following him. From there, the story came together pretty quickly.

In the book, there’s a question of whether or not the carrots are really following Jasper, or if it’s in his imagination. The grownups in the book don’t believe him…as is so often true in life. It was always clear to me that the carrots were real, they were really following him, and they had a plan.

So did you have the grownups who would be reading the book in mind when you wrote the story? Do you include something in your books to entertain parents and caregivers?

Yep, I always like to have double layers of humor in everything I write. If you look at Shrek and some of the best kids and family stuff out there that Pixar and Dreamworks are doing, there are always gags and jokes that go over kids heads that the adults bust a gut over. That’s the stuff I love and it’s definitely the kind of thing I like to do in my stories. Plus, it keeps me entertained along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I have the sense of humor and maturity of the average 7-year-old, but the subtle references keep my adult self happy as well. 🙂

Peter Brown illustrated the book with a film-noir feel, mostly black and white with the orange of the carrots in a starring role. Was the “classic movie” treatment part of your original concept?

My editor and I talked a lot about the look of the book early on. I was definitely inspired by 1950’s style hokey horror movies (being weaned on Mystery Science Theatre 3000 from early on) and always saw it as a mock-horror picture book, which isn’t exactly something you see every day and felt a little risky, but exciting to me. So a black and white feel was something I was really excited about. I talked about it with my editor, the idea of doing black and white with a single carroty accent color, and I was thrilled to find out that he really resonated with that, and further thrilled to find out that Peter really loved the idea, too. Peter definitely brought his own take on it, and you see that with the rounded corners (throwback to old TV screens) and extreme dramatic lighting, not to mention his homage to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” on one spread.

How did you know CREEPY CARROTS was a winning concept? Did you sit down and write it immediately after it came to mind, or did you let it marinate a bit?

I didn’t know it was a winning concept at all. As often is the case, I felt like this idea could be a little too far out in left field for most editors to get excited about. Some initial responses were not only unreceptive, but downright offended at the story! But….you only have your own voice. If I can’t trust my own voice, who’s can I trust? I had to believe that the right quirky, goofy editor would snatch this up and that others would just have to be offended. In the end, it worked. But sometimes you think you’re crazy. You think “Can I truly be the only person in the world who thinks this is hilarious?!”

I didn’t sit down and write it immediately. It stewed for about a year before I finally sat down to put it to paper. But once I did, it came out pretty quickly.

Did the title CREEPY CARROTS come first or after you wrote the story?

Actually, the original title was EVIL CARROTS, and it came first, before I wrote the story. But my editor told me that people don’t buy picture books with the word EVIL in the title! Probably for good reason…

And CREEPY CARROTS made the NY Times Bestseller list! How did that accomplishment feel?

Woozy. I literally almost fainted. In the back of your head you dream that something like this might someday happen, but don’t really expect it to. So it was an amazing day.

What’s your best advice for PiBoIdMo participants as they go about capturing ideas?

Hmm. I guess it would be that there’s a fine line between a crazy, out-there idea and a really brilliant one. Who would have thought that a book where a pigeon is begging the reader to let him drive a bus would be a hit? If you’d pitched that to an editor at a conference before Mo Willems wrote it, most probably would have nixed it.

So many picture books out there seem to play it really safe. But there are editors out there that think like you do. So trust your voice. Trust your ideas, even if (and sometimes especially if) they seem out-there and crazy. This is a world where even a crazy story (or a creepy, carroty one) can become a success.

Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author and has written many highly acclaimed books for kids, including CREEPY CARROTS!, CHICKS AND SALSA, BACK OF THE BUS, and the JOEY FLY, PRIVATE EYE graphic novel series. He has a passion for kids’ books and seeing kids reading them. He regularly makes time to visit schools where his hilarious hands-on presentations keep kids spellbound. Aaron lives in Chicago with his wife, 2 kids, 4 cats, and anywhere between zero and ten goldfish, depending on the day.

Hey, everyone! You can win a signed copy of CREEPY CARROTS! Leave a comment to enter. A winner will be randomly selected in one week. Good luck!

This interview was a huge encouragement to me! I love this line:”If I can’t trust my own voice, who’s can I trust?” So true. I think it’s easy to get discouraged when you send things out and send things out but I am reminded today that I still need to stay true to my voice.

What a great message, especially for PiBoIdMo. It’s easy to stay reigned in when it comes to ideas. Here’s to letting ourselves venture to the outer limits this month and remember that kids are as delighted with the fresh and edgy as adults.

Thanks for the reminder not to give up on those more quirky ideas. My agent said when she was trying to sell the more quirky stories of mine -it only takes ONE editor to love it. Like you say, you just need to find the right editor. And it can happen as you clearly show. A manuscript I wrote about five years ago and loads of editors turned down (it’s completely non-translatable so a very hard sell), has just had renewed interest by a big publisher and it’s going for a second meeting next week. It still doesn’t mean it’ll get published, but I think you’re right to be prepared to go for your own kind of quirky and I love the sound of your Creepy Carrots! Might be a Christmas present. To myself!

There is nothing better than a good scary read a loud. It is not easy to find the right kind of scary for an early audience. There are so many ways to extend the story with kids. I love carrots and I love Creepy Carrots!

I absolutely love wild ideas that actually form into a story that someone loves. 🙂 You’re so right about trusting your own voice, and I’m definately taking inspiration from a fellow wierd idea writer! Thanks!

I read Creepy Carrots this fall in a book store…loved it. Very funny! The text & illustrations give that perfect Twilght Zone feeling.
—“Can I truly be the only person in the world who thinks this is hilarious?!”—
Obviously, you found the right editor & lots of “persons” think it’s hilarious! :•) thus NY Times Bestseller List.
Thanks for the inspiration!

I’m so looking forward to reading creepy carrots. I collect any picture books involving veg. for sharing with youngsters on a community allotment project. This story looks fabulous and quirky with awesome pictures. 🙂

Thanks so much for this post – your book looks fantastic. I’ve shown my PB stories to a few people and some of them say they think they’re too complex/grown-up/gross for kids, but I’m fed up of stories about ‘ickle bunnies who need a hug’ etc. etc. etc. YAWN. Your post gives me hope!

can’t wait to get my hands on this book. Thanks Tara and Aaron for a great interview. This solidifies one of my ideas which I thought would never fly with an editor, but after reading this, I’m definitely going to write it. Thanks a bunch!

Aaron, CREEPY CARROTS is my newest favorite picture book! I can’t believe some editors got offended with your story. I guess you can call me quirky and goofy because I adore your book. I discovered it at my library recently. Enjoyed reading about your story developing it. Thanks, Tara, for having him as your guest.

What a wonderful idea – I want to read it! And how reassuring to know the whacky ideas not only still get published but prove their worth in the market – hopefully you’re encouraging other publishers to go with the wilder ideas too.

Oh yes, Aaron…I remember watching the old Alfred Hitchcock Presents and then walking down the hallway in our home, clutching my older sister’s hand as we got ready for bed…did I want to sleep in my own after each episode? No! But was I compelled to watch the next episode? Yes!
I read “Creepy Carrots”…and it did remind me of that…so I KNOW kids love that stuff. 🙂
Thanks so much for your powerful advice of ‘listening to our own voice and going with our own ideas…even if (or especially if) they are ‘out there and a bit crazy’…another golden nugget to add to my PiBoIdMo treasure chest. 🙂

“…Trust your own voice.” Thanks Aaron, sound advice. Santa will be dropping ‘Creepy Carrots’ in my little ‘uns stocking this year. Encouraging to know I’m not the only ‘hairy-bag-o-testosterone’ in this caper. Thanks.

As someone who is getting feedback on a manuscript that says something like “oh, A is too short.” and then “Oh, A is too long” I appreciate your reminder to trust yourself and your voice. Can’t wait to check out creepy carrots!

It can be easy to start second-guessing ourselves when someone reacts negatively to a story that we believe in. Knowing that some editors were offended by a story that later became a hit helps keep things in perspective. Thank you!

I saw Creepy Carrots in a book store a couple months ago and it immediately caught my eye. I loved it and thought that this is the kind of quirky story I like to write! Thanks for reminding us to listen to our own voices and weird ideas!

As a freelance writer in marketing/advertising, I’m firm about not censoring what I write (judging it and thinking for the client). That’s the job of the legal and compliance departments. So why do I do it when I sit down to write for kids? Holy cow! I needed to hear this, Aaron. Thanks so much.

Boy, Aaron, you and I could have sat on the same curb and discussed Saturday morning horror films. How I loved my white metal TV I had in my bedroom. It had the curved frame.

Then, when we matured to The Twilight Zone, we could have talked about the episode where the dimension opened up and the boy rolled off his bed and fell through the wall. His mom wakes up and hears him crying. Now that one was creepy. I wouldn’t walk too close to a wall for a year or two. (okay maybe forty)

I have a five year old girl who LOVES to be scared too, again not nightmare scared. When she was three she dictated a book to me for her dad for father’s day. Needless to say, the starring caracters were babies and monsters 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win a signed copy 🙂

Oh my goodness. Brilliant. “But there are editors out there that think like you do. So trust your voice.” That right there is sooooooo good to hear! I haven’t found them yet but I’m on a hunt! Thanks!!!!

Aaron, thanks for the post! Definitely needed to hear ‘Trust your ideas. Trust your voice,’ since I received a quick (less than 18 hour) rejection on a PB proposal this week. Thanks for the encouragement.

So many comments left…I see we all want this book hahaha! I love the concept of this story. Reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom constantly tried to make me eat brussel sprouts and I wouldn’t do it because they looked like green brains….now I eat them all the time. Go figure!

I’ve got to read this book!. It sounds like a dream a kid would have. So I guess I’ll go ahead and write down those crazy ideas that don’t always seem possible at first. Maybe after sitting in my mind and journal for a while they’ll find a way to exist. Thanks for the inspiration.

Your book is genius. How inventive. My favorite picture books are of the “unsafe” variety. Thanks to authors like you we have picture books to reference when editors tell us to play it safe and we can say, “but no, look here, this book didn’t play it safe. Look, it’s quirky. It’s goofy. A little scary (because life is a little scary). And it’s a bestseller!” Congratulations on your much-deserved success.

Creepy Carrots is one of our new favorite titles around here (My son LOVES Joe Fly, too!) and I am happy to see this interview. It’s a great reminder to push yourself, and that left field can be a pretty happy place to be!